Perikatan Nasional today expressed its unhappiness over the proposed changes to the Federal Constitution regarding citizenship.
What Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had briefed PN MPs differed from the current state of the bill, opposition chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan said during a press conference at Parliament.
PN also disagreed with dropping the amendment, which would require foundlings to gain citizenship through registration and not by force of law, he added.
The registration for citizenship would require various supporting documents including a birth certificate, police report, and even newspaper articles about the found baby, if available, the Kota Bharu MP lawmaker said.
“That much thoroughness or strictness is imposed on the application for a person, a baby, that is found to be confirmed as a citizen.
“Suddenly this provision was not inserted in the bill,” he lamented.
Opposition lawmakers had just emerged from a meeting with Saifuddin, in which the home minister gave explanations that were deemed not justifiable.
Takiyuddin (above) questioned why the provision was dropped, voicing his suspicion that Saifuddin is facing pressure from within the government or cabinet.
On Friday, the cabinet agreed to cancel the Home Ministry’s proposal to amend the Federal Constitution regarding the right to grant citizenship to foundlings.
However, the Malaysian Citizenship Rights Alliance yesterday said that the remaining amendments will still negatively affect foundlings.
Prior to the changes on Friday, PN indicated support for the bill, which could have guaranteed the government much-needed votes to secure a two-thirds majority required to amend the Federal Constitution.
Hold off tabling bill
Takiyuddin urged the government to hold off on tabling the bill.
He also supported opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin’s call for the bill to be submitted to a parliamentary special select committee for a full review.
He said it was a normal practice for any bill that is being disputed by the opposition or within the government.
“That was the suggestion given by the opposition leader to the home minister just now,” he said.
It happened with the bill to regulate smoking and vaping, which included the generational endgame policy when PN was in power, he added.
He said the government should give all stakeholders time to bring their suggestions and proposals to the ministry.
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